During a discussion with economists at Príncipe Real garden in Lisbon, António Filipe described Portugal’s recognition of the State of Palestine as a positive yet overdue development, urging that it should not remain merely symbolic.
“This recognition should be matched with concrete international actions by the Portuguese State. Foremost, it necessitates the establishment of an embassy at that level in Palestine, alongside the Palestinian Authority,” he asserted.
The presidential candidate, backed by the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP), stressed that the recognition should reflect Portugal’s commitment to fulfilling United Nations resolutions concerning the State of Palestine. This involves acknowledging the 1967 borders and recognizing East Jerusalem as the capital, as well as upholding the right of return for Palestinian refugees.
“It’s vital for immediate international action to pressure Israeli authorities for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and to halt violence, particularly from settlers and Israeli troops in the West Bank,” he continued, advocating for the government to also ensure the removal of any barriers to humanitarian aid in Gaza.
When asked whether Portugal’s embassy in Palestine should be located in East Jerusalem, Filipe noted that the Palestinian Authority is currently based in Ramallah, where Portugal maintains a diplomatic representation that should be upgraded to an embassy.
“However, we must not lose sight of the future goal of establishing the Portuguese embassy in East Jerusalem as swiftly as possible, as it is the historic capital of the Palestinian state,” he stated.
On Sunday, Portugal, along with the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, officially recognized the State of Palestine.
